When we talk about creating safer and healthier workplaces we often realise that a lot of employees are surprised when they learn drug and alcohol testing is an important part of the workforce’s safety.

But this shouldn’t be a surprise, last year just over 1 in 10 adults aged 16-59 reported taking drugs, and for those aged 16-24, it was 1 in 51. We also know the importance of supporting employees' mental health, with 1 in 4 people in the UK experiencing a mental health problem each year2. Today we are going to look at the link between mental health and drug and alcohol use in the workplace. By making managers more aware of the problem and providing proactive support to employees, can we help reduce the risk that drugs and alcohol pose to the workplace?

To talk to us more about this today we have Andy Stevens. Andy Stevens runs his own building and consultancy companies. He is a strong advocate for mental health, especially in the construction industry and has presented a series interviewing people in the industry who have struggled with mental health. He has not just spoken of his own difficulties and how he overcame them, but also speaks at exhibitions and conferences on mental health in construction and now advises companies and Government in America, Canada and the UK as well as chairing many panels on this topic. This podcast has been sponsored by Abbott.

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This month on the HSE Network podcast we reflect on the HSE Virtual Series Congress with a fantastic conversation between our old Managing Director and event presenter Elliot Cunnington and CHEP's Director of Health and Safety Vicki Simmons. Vicki gives a candid account of her experience with a nervous breakdown and how she dealt with it.

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When we talk about Connecting Safety, Health and well-being in the workplace we often realise that a lot of employees are surprised when they learn drug and alcohol testing is an important part of the workforce’s safety.

We would like to solve some mysteries around why drug testing is an important part of occupational health assessments so we sat down with Jane Le Count and Dr Maggie Samuel who both play an important role in the drug testing services provided by Abbott.

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